The Orioles have reached a crossroads with Samuel Basallo, and the issue is no longer theoretical. The 22-year-old catcher has battled concussions and throwing shoulder problems, and after the club committed to him long term, keeping him on the field has to become the priority.
That’s where the dilemma starts. Basallo was always viewed as a bat-first player, and his 2025 MLB Pipeline scouting report reflected that clearly, listing him as a catcher/first baseman and saying, "Basallo’s defensive game isn’t considered nearly as sure of a thing as his bat."
Even before he reached the majors, there were questions about whether he would hold up behind the plate. This season, he caught only 56% of the games he played in, and that number dropped to 65% after Adley Rutschman was traded.
The offensive production has not yet matched the promise, either. After his Aug. 17 call-up in 2025, Basallo appeared in 31 games and hit .165 with a .559 OPS. In 2026, he was limited to 112 games because of two separate trips to the IL, though his bat did improve somewhat; he still finished with a .222 average and a .696 OPS.
For Baltimore, the bigger question is what comes next. If Basallo is supposed to be the catcher of the future, the organization has to find a way to protect his health. But if the goal is to get the most out of his bat, then the Orioles may need to stop forcing the issue behind the plate and live with him as a full-time DH, with maybe some backup or third-string catching mixed in.
That’s why this offseason matters so much. The Orioles should be looking outside the organization for catching help, and there are signs that position could be one of the stronger ones in free agency this winter. That opens the door to either a higher-end multi-year addition or a veteran on a shorter deal.
Basallo still has the kind of talent that gets players into the top 15 of prospect rankings in the first place. What pushed him there was the bat, and that remains the part of his game Baltimore has to build around.
He’s already been paid. Now the Orioles need to make sure he’s healthy enough to use what made him special in the first place.
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